Chapter 7: Leg Ailment (2)

“Old Pan, I’m back.”

Just then, they heard Sister Li’s sharp voice from outside the door. “What are you doing? Leaving the gate open! Are you trying to invite thieves into our home?”

The three were startled. It was clear that Sister Li was in a bad mood today. Her shrill voice made Wen Yao feel like her eardrums were about to burst.

Di Jiang, however, remained calm, silently pondering how to explain the situation. But before she could come up with a plan, Sister Li had already reached the doorway.

“Why are you in my house?!” Sister Li looked displeased upon seeing Wen Yao and the others. When she saw Old Pan lying unconscious on the bed, her expression turned fierce. She angrily shouted, “Old Pan, are you dead? Why do you keep bringing these shady people into our home! Can’t even guard the house properly, what use are you!”

After speaking, Sister Li realized Old Pan wasn’t responding but was lying stiffly on the bed. Only then did she notice something was wrong.

Approaching, she found Old Pan with his eyes closed, unresponsive. Her face darkened, and she cried out, “Old Pan! Old Pan, what’s wrong with you!”

But Old Pan remained peacefully asleep on the bed, showing no reaction.

“What have you done to him! Is he dead?” Sister Li turned to Wen Yao by the bedside, cursing viciously.

“Dead?” Wen Yao sneered. “You wish he were dead, but unfortunately, not only will he not die, after waking up, he’ll be able to walk briskly!”

Sister Li frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Is it that hard to understand? Our shopkeeper is a renowned doctor from Taiping Prefecture. Her medical skills are extraordinary, capable of curing any疑难杂症. Just a leg? With a flick of her fingers, she can restore it completely!” After saying this, instead of looking relieved, Sister Li became even angrier.

“You—you cheaters! What are your intentions coming to my house!” Sister Li picked up a broom by the door and yelled at the three. “First, you pretend to deliver eggs from Lang’er, now you pretend to treat Old Pan. What are you scheming?”

“What schemes could we possibly have? Eyeing your wealth or your beauty?” Wen Yao laughed. “Your house is empty, and you’re past your prime. Who are you beautifying yourself for every day?”

“You! It’s none of your business who I’m beautifying myself for, certainly not for you! Get out of my house! I don’t need you treating Old Pan!”

Upon hearing this, Wen Yao jumped up from the bed, furious. She sneered, “Ah, I forgot~ You certainly don’t want Old Pan to walk briskly. If his legs get better, you won’t be able to bully him daily. Then, when Old Pan releases all his pent-up grievances, watch him beat you, you shameless wench!”

“Wen Yao! Stop talking nonsense!” Di Jiang, seeing Wen Yao escalating things, quickly reprimanded her.

Wen Yao snorted, though unwilling, she obediently stood aside, refraining from provoking Sister Li further.

However, Sister Li was already fuming from Wen Yao’s words. She grabbed the broom and swung it at Wen Yao’s head. “Get out! This is my house! How dare you little girl act wild here! Get out!”

With a “slap,” a large bump appeared on Wen Yao’s head, swelling visibly.

Wen Yao widened her eyes, surprised that Sister Li would actually dare hit her. Moreover, being beaten by a mortal and forming a blood blister was an unbearable humiliation for her!

Wen Yao rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight back, but just as her right foot stepped forward, she suddenly felt a chill at the back of her neck. In the next moment, everything went black, and she lost consciousness.

Di Jiang, standing behind Wen Yao, decisively knocked her out. She didn’t want Wen Yao accidentally killing Sister Li in a fit of anger.

Di Jiang shook her hand and told Shuxiang, “Carry Wen Yao on your back, let’s go.”

“Yes.” Shuxiang nodded, walked over, hoisted Wen Yao onto his shoulder, and headed out.

“Hold on—” At this moment, Sister Li said again, “You think you can come and go as you please? Do you think so little of me?”

“Oh?” Di Jiang chuckled. “Didn’t you just tell us to leave?”

“That was earlier, now it’s different,” Sister Li rested the broom on her shoulder and smiled. “I haven’t checked if anything is missing from my house. I still don’t know what you’ve done to my poor husband. You think you can just leave? Where will I go to complain?!”

“What do you want?” Di Jiang approached her, standing calmly in front of her, gazing steadily at her.

Sister Li was momentarily intimidated by her presence but quickly regained her fiery temperament, shouting, “One silver coin! Otherwise, no one leaves!” After speaking, she placed the broom across the doorway, blocking their path with a defiant stance.

“You just want money?” Di Jiang lightly chuckled, pulling out a silver ingot from her sleeve—about three taels—and waved it in front of Sister Li. Then, she tossed it outside, where it rolled twice in the snow before landing in a pile of cow dung.

“If you want the money, go get it yourself.” Di Jiang covered her mouth and giggled.

Sister Li’s face flushed red with anger, but she immediately ran toward the yard. Halfway there, she suddenly heard Di Jiang shout, “Stop.”

In the next moment, Sister Li felt her body freeze, her left foot forward, right foot back, squatting halfway as if running but unable to move.

“You—you, are you human or ghost? What have you done to me!” Sister Li, half-squatting in the snow, initially frightened, soon began cursing loudly. “Damn you! Don’t play tricks on me, release me now!”

“This isn’t some grand spell, just a trick from the江湖. Stay here quietly for a while. When Old Pan wakes up, he’ll carry you back. For now, endure the taste of hunger and cold.” Di Jiang pointed to Shuxiang, “Let’s go.”

“You coward! Either kill me now or I’ll report you to the village chief to break your legs!”

“Too noisy.” As Di Jiang spoke, she placed her index finger on her lips, then pointed it at Sister Li. A golden light shot from Di Jiang’s fingertip to Sister Li’s lips, silencing her.

Sister Li’s mouth hung open, unable to speak or curse.

Her eyes filled with anger and fear, but Di Jiang ignored her, pretending not to see her glaring from the snow. Leading Shuxiang, they walked out of the gate.

Wen Yao lay motionless on Shuxiang’s shoulder, completely unaware of what had transpired, evidently deep in unconsciousness.

After leaving Sister Li’s house, Shuxiang quietly remarked, “It’s the first time I’ve seen the shopkeeper discipline someone.”

“It’s just a small punishment. Those who speak recklessly will end up in hell anyway.” Di Jiang hummed a tune, clearly in a good mood.

Shuxiang also laughed. “If Wen Yao were awake, she’d surely cheer and applaud for the shopkeeper.”

“Her?” Di Jiang laughed heartily. “If Wen Yao were awake, there wouldn’t be a need for me to intervene. Sister Li would probably be torn apart, bones stripped clean, and her flesh thrown to the dogs. After following me, neither you nor Wen Yao are allowed to harm anyone ever again.”

“...” Hearing this, Shuxiang’s expression darkened. After a long pause, he said, “Yes, Shuxiang understands.”

The three slowly made their way back. Near the inn, they encountered a familiar figure at the market entrance—Zhong Xu.

Zhong Xu carried a bamboo basket filled with incense and冥纸. Seeing Di Jiang, his expression faltered.

“Boss Zhong, you sell incense yourself. Did you run out and need to buy more elsewhere? Didn’t you bring any from Taiping Prefecture?” Di Jiang earnestly asked, receiving an awkward look from Zhong Xu.

Zhong Xu hesitated, not wanting to answer. But under Di Jiang’s unwavering gaze, he reluctantly said, “I encountered some wandering spirits on the road and used them to perform超度.”

“Boss Zhong, your kindness is admirable. Di Jiang respects you.” Di Jiang blinked her eyes, genuinely praising him. However, Zhong Xu looked uncomfortable, seemingly unused to Di Jiang’s compliments. In his mind, Di Jiang was always a troublemaker. Unable to understand her, he turned to leave.

Di Jiang quickly stopped him, with a hint of melancholy. “Boss Zhong, you expend your energy to超度 wandering spirits you don’t know. Why do you always seem to dislike me? Have I done something wrong to make you so unhappy?” As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and tears fell with a blink.

Shuxiang, watching her change expressions, was utterly astonished.

Zhong Xu panicked, unsure what to do with his hands. Trembling, he hastily put down the basket and pulled out a handkerchief from his怀, stammering, “Shopkeeper Di, I don’t dislike you... I just... don’t know how to interact with women.”

Di Jiang didn’t take the handkerchief but cried even harder, sobbing and pounding her fists against Zhong Xu’s chest. “Shopkeeper Zhong, there’s no need to explain. I know you dislike me. I’ll never appear before you again...”

“Shopkeeper Di, don’t belittle yourself! We are neighbors and should support each other.” Zhong Xu grabbed Di Jiang’s wrists, and Di Jiang leaned into his arms.

Zhong Xu froze, trembling and speechless.

“Boss Zhong, I’m just a weak woman. Please don’t dislike me...”

Zhong Xu stood rigid, shaking his head rapidly. “I don’t dislike you.”

“Then why won’t you help wipe my tears?” Di Jiang looked at him with sorrow. Zhong Xu, flustered, instinctively avoided her tear-streaked face. His left hand, holding the handkerchief, trembled as he tentatively wiped her cheeks.

At that moment, a “sniff” sound was heard as Di Jiang blew her nose into the handkerchief.

Zhong Xu immediately snapped out of it. His left hand paused, and the handkerchief fell to the ground.

“Shopkeeper Di, please maintain propriety.” He coughed indifferently and pushed Di Jiang away.

“Goodness, it hasn’t been long, and you’re telling me to maintain propriety!” Di Jiang glared at him, calmly picked up the handkerchief, flipped it over, and continued wiping her tears. After finishing, she stuffed it back into Zhong Xu’s怀 and smiled. “Shopkeeper Zhong, from now on, we’re family. You must smile more at me. A smile takes ten years off your age. Otherwise, in a few years, you’ll be full of wrinkles.”

Zhong Xu stared at Di Jiang, utterly unable to connect the person before him with her previous self. He shook his head vigorously, convinced he must have been bewitched earlier. Otherwise, how could he have lost his composure and been charmed by her?

Shuxiang, watching them act like a pair of bickering lovers, laughed until he doubled over.